FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 7, 2016
Contact: Heather F. Williamson
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
20 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176-2809
(703) 777-0242
LALLY CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
JURY FIXES SENTENCE AT FOUR YEARS AND THREE MONTHS
LEESBURG, Virginia – June 6, 2016. After a full day of evidence and argument, a Loudoun County jury found Eric Christian Lally, 37, of Oakton, guilty of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, a felony under Virginia law. The jury deliberated for less than twenty minutes before returning a guilty verdict.
On March 31, 2015, Loudoun County deputies were dispatched to INOVA Lansdowne Hospital for a report of a disorderly person. Upon their arrival at the hospital, deputies observed Lally laying in a wooded area in front of the hospital. Hospital staff advised law enforcement that Lally appeared to be extremely intoxicated and had run out of the hospital before emergency room physicians were able to examine him. While deputies attempted to assess the situation and determine Lally’s identity, Lally stood up. Deputy Shannon Almborg reached out in an attempt to steady Lally, who was unsteady on his feet. Lally turned and began swinging his fists, striking Deputy Almborg in the face and chest. Additional deputies present, immediately came to Almborg’s aid and were able to restrain Lally. Lally was subsequently arrested and transported to the Adult Detention Center, where he continued to be uncooperative, combative, and refused to stand or walk.
During the sentencing phase of the proceedings, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan W. Perry presented evidence in the form of two prior convictions for assault and battery, a conviction for disorderly conduct, and a conviction for obstruction of justice. Although the prior assault convictions were misdemeanors, when Lally testified that “it wasn’t in his nature to assault police officers,” information came to light that revealed the victims in those two previous assaults were a Loudoun County Deputy and a Fairfax County Police Officer.
The jury fixed Lally’s punishment at four years and three months in prison. The maximum prison sentence available for assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, a Class 6 Felony, is five years. The Court revoked Lally’s bond and he is currently being held in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center pending a final sentencing hearing.
The case will be back in Circuit Court again on June 13, 2016 to schedule a final sentencing hearing. The Hon. Douglas L. Fleming Jr. presided over the trial.
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